 Scarlet Rose
ONCE THERE GREW A SCARLET ROSE
BLOOMING BY MY DOOR
FORGOTTEN THERE, IT WITHERED THERE,
AND THEN IT BLOOMED NO MORE,
THE WEEDS AND GRASS GREW OVER IT,
AND THEY DRANK, ALL THE RAIN
TOO WEAK TO BEAR THE WINTER FROST
THERE WERE NO BLOOMS THIS SPRING
I PULLED THE WEEDS AND GRASS AWAY
AND PUSHED THE DIRT ASIDE
I LOOKED BENEATH THE SOIL TO SEE
IF ALL THE ROOTS HAD DIED
THEN SUDDENLY, WONDROUSLY,
I SAW A BIT OF GREEN,
AN ANGEL WEPT, TILL SOMEONE CARED
AND TEARS REPLACED THE RAIN
I'LL KEEP THE WEEDS AND GRASS AWAY,
MY ROSE, YOU'LL DRINK THE RAIN,
PROTECT YOU FROM THE WINTER FROST
MY ROSE YOU'LL BLOOM AGAIN.
by Sally Lewis
My mom wrote this after a terrible fight with depression, having to deal with
7 hungry little children in a house all too small for so many, and all to sad
living with my alcoholic father... we always had music and laughter and
mother always found some way to give praises to God and his angels for
keeping her and my brothers and sisters and I alive in such a violent and
oppressive environment. Finally, after too many years of abuse and
starvation, mother gathered her courage and left my dad. She wrote this song
shortly there after. The rose signifies her heart and the elements the
oppressor, the weeds and grass that smothered were my father and the alcohol
he loved more than us. Mothers prayers were answered and we were saved by a
single choice... to do the best thing for the children gave my mother strength
to make the best possible decision. She took care of us with getting help
from anyone but our Lord and this poem which is now a song, signifies the
power of prayer and faith in love through grace and hope and I thought I
would finally share it with others.--Love, Sherrie McBurney |
